Spanish miners converge on Madrid after long march

Miners sing as they march along a street after walking for more than 20 days from the northern Asturias and Leon regions, on their way to Puerta del Sol, Madrid's most emblematic square, on the evening of July 10, 2012.

Dani Pozo / AFP - Getty Images

Coal miners march through Madrid on July 10, 2012.

The Associated Press reports from Madrid — Spanish coal miners angered by huge cuts in government subsidies for their industry converged on Madrid Tuesday for protest rallies after walking nearly three weeks under a blazing sun from the pits where they eke out a living.

The miners, wearing hard hats with lamps, were joined by thousands of sympathizers in the city. One group of about 160 miners walked all the way from the northern Asturias and Leon regions, as many as 250 miles away from Madrid, and about 40 made an almost equally long trek from the northeastern Aragon region. Read the full story.